Braiding machine



Nov. 14, 1944; J. DUNN 2,362,688

BRAIDING' MACHINE Filed June 27. 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 e INVENTOR BY @1 04 ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1944. J. DUNN BRAIDING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1944. DUNN 7 2,362,688

' BRAIDING MACHINE.

Filed Jfine 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 3Q INVENTQR 3 12%.

Nov. 14, 1944.

,1. DUNN BRAIDIgIG MACHINE Filed Jurie 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 g 2 :2 INVENTOR K BY ZPQMA UM'Q Patented Nov. 14, 1944 John Dunn, Mountainside, J., 'assignor to.

Titefle x, 1110., Newark,

New Jersey N. J., a corporation of; r

Application June 27, 1941, Serial No. 399.976:

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in braiding machines, and method of operating, for fabricating tubular braided structures either in the form of a covering for an elongated body such as a tube or conduit, or for fabricating braided cords and the like.

The invention relates more particularly to the well known *Maypole type of braiding machines and is especially intended for use in braiding a covering of metal strips upon the exterior of a flexible metal tube, such structure of tube with a braided covering being shown and described'in the Brinkman Patent No. 1,340,818 issued May 18, 1920, with special reference to Fig. 5 of that patent. The invention is, however, applicable to any structure of braiding machine and may be employed in connection with any use to which it is suitable.

A usual construction of the Maypole type of braiding machine comprises a horizontal deck or track plate provided with grooves, slots or tracks extending about the axis of the machine and in which the bobbin carriers are guided aroundthe axis of the machine. There are usually=tw guide ways in the deck .or track plate, leading in a tortuous or sinuous course around the central axis of the machine and crossing each other at regular intervals. Two sets of bobbin carriers are traveled in opposite directions in the tracks or guide Ways, to cause the carriers to pass inwardly and outwardly around each other to interlace their strands, strips or filaments in accordance with the well known method of a Maypole dance. A strip, strand or filament extends upwardly from the bobbin on each of the-carriers to a point adjacent to the vertical axisof the braiding machine, and by reason of the interlac ing action as described a braid is "formed about the said axis. If it is desired to apply a braid to the exterior of a tube or other similar elongated body, the tube or body is caused topass upwardly at the axis of the braider at a speed suitably'proportioned to the braiding operation when the braid will .be formed upon the exterior of the said tube or body. 7

One of the main objects of the invention isto provide a machine of the character as indicated which shall be practically capable of greatly 'increased speed and therefore of productive capacity.

A further object of the inventionis to reduce the noise of operation of such machines.

A further object of the invention is to increase the durability and the life-of such machines by reducing the wear of the parts thereof.

A furtherobject 'of the inventionis to provide means for accomplishing the desired objects which shall be readily applicable to braiding machines now .in common'use.

A further object of theinvent ion is to provide a machine of the character describedwherein the guides for the "strip or filament leaving the bobbin sh all freely adjust itself to conditions whereby the strip shall enter properly into the braid.

further objector the invention .is to reduce the wear onthe strip guiding means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method of operating a braiding machine. j

Other and ancillary objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying the invention- Fig.1 is a top plan view of amachine, partly in section and with some parts omitted, embodying the invention, of apparatus and by which the method may be carried. out;

'Fig. 2 is a section; on an enlarged scale, on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, such sectionextending partially across the machine, the other side of the machine being of similar construction, certain of the par-ts being broken away;

1 1g; 3 is aside e-levation, on an enlarged scale, of a bobbin-carrier, adjacent partsb'eing broken away and certain parts being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a length of metal tube with a braided 'covering' oi metal strips, the same being the product 'of the m'achine of Figs. 1,2and'3z-ahd Fig. 5 is a View similar-to and on the samelscaie as Fig. 2, showing a modifieldfconstruction of braiding machine embodying the invention of anparatus and by which the invention of method maybe carried out.

Referring to the drawingsand first to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the apparatus comprises a deck or trackplate comprising an inner ring 1 having equi-d-istant star points 2 and an outer ring 3 having star points 4 opposite the star points 2, and intermediate irregularly-shaped plates 5 usually called quoitsfi ;*T-he quoits 5 are arranged centrally within the spaces between the points 2 and 4 and have their edges lying contiguous to and spaced slightly apart from the scalloped edgeso-f rings I and 3 whereby to provide the sinuous slots, tracks orguideways 6 and I for the shoes [5 of the bobbin carriers, whichslots intersect at the crossing pointsjB.

The rings =1 and 3 and the quojits 5 of the deck or track plate arearranged in a horizontal plane.

drawings which illustrate The ring 3 is supported by, secured to and spaced from the lower fiat, annular plate 9 by a series of bolts I9. Each of the quoits 5 is supported by, secured to and spaced from the lower plate 9 by a bolt I I and the inner ring I is supported by, secured to and spaced from the plate 9 by a series of bolts |2. Each of the bolts I I is locked against turning in the quoit 5 or the plate 9 by keys 3 and I4.

Rotatably mounted upon each of the bolts II is a spur gear I6 and a horn gear II, the gears I6 and I! being fixed to each other. One of the spur gears is driven by intermeshing with another spur gear. I8 fixed upon the shaft I9, through spiral gears one of which is fixed on the shaft I9, and the other upon a driving shaft 2| which may be driven from an electric motor or other suitable source of power, this driving shaft 2| being rotatably mounted in a bracket 22 which is secured by bolt 24 to the bottom 23 of an oil pan which is supported upon the beams 25 and 26 which may be mounted in any suitable manner.

Also' the bolts III, II and I2 extend through the bottom 23' of the oil pan so that the lower plate 9 and all of the parts secured to it by the bolts mentioned will be secured to the pan bottom 23 bynuts on said bolts on the outer side of the pan bottom. Leakage from the pan through they bolt holes may be prevented by gaskets 21, 28 and 29 encircling the bolts I6, I I and I2 respectively p and inserted between the bottom plate 9 and the pan bottom 23.

Each of the horn gears comprises a circular plate 30 having the recesses 3| and 32 upon diametrically. opposite sides of the plate and within these recesses is embraced projections or horns 33 and 34 of circular cross section, extending downwardly from the bobbin carriers, there being two bobbin carriers (moving in opposite directions about the center of the apparatus) for each horn gear. There is a spur gear, as I6, corresponding to each of the horn gears and each of the gears as I6 meshes with its adjacent similar gears so that all such spur gears about the apparatus are geared together.

Fixed to each bobbin carrier beneath the deck or track plate is a flange 35 which prevents undue tipping or upward movement of the bobbin carrier. Each bobbin carrier has a frame comprising abase portion 36 fixed to a shoe I5 travelling within a guide slot of the track plate, and uprights 37 and 38, the base 36 overlapping the edges of the guideslot in the deck or track plate.

The bobbin 39 for the filament or strip 46 is rotatably mounted (see Fig. 3) being fixed upon a shaft 4| rotatably mounted in the uprights'3I and 38. The bobbin is held against turning by-a ratchet wheel 42 fixed to the shaft 4| held against movement by the pawl 43 pivoted on the bobbin carrier frameand having its nose 44 urged toward the ratchetwheel by a spring 45 acting upon the tail 460i the pawl. The strip 46 passes from the bobbin over a pulley 4I rotatably mounted on the carrier frame and thence passes over a pulley 48 rotatably mounted in an arm 49 pivoted in the carrier frame at 50, a spring 5| pressing the arm so as to force the pulley 48 against the strip 46 to hold it taut.

With the bobbin parts in the position as shown in Fig. 3, the bobbin being held stationary by the pawl and ratchet 43 and 42, the slack in the strip will. be taken up as'the braiding operation proceeds by the spring-pressed pulley 48 and arm 49 which will be forced upwardly against the tension of the spring 5| until the nose 52 on the arm 49 comes against the tail of the pawl 46 throwing the nose- 44 of the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 42 against the tension of the spring 45. The bobbin being then free to move, th spring 5| will force the arm 49 and pulley 48 downwardly toward the position as shown in Fig. 3,, the bobbin unwinding to provide the slack. When the nose 52 has left the tail 46 of the pawl, the nose 44 of the pawl will be againthrown in engagement with the ratchet wheel and arrest the bobbin. The slack will then again be taken out of the strip by the braiding operation which will operate to again raise the pulley 48 and arm 49 against the spring 5|, and finally the ratchet wheel will again be released as before described and the operation will be repeated so long as the machine is in operation.

In order to prevent too sudden operation or over-running of the bobbin when released, a brake is applied thereto by means of the brake arm 53 pivoted to the base 36 at 54 and drawn against the ratchet wheel by a spring 53.

The strip 4|] passes to the braid I2 on the tube 65, over a guide roller 56 rotatably mounted upon I the bushing 51 rotatably mounted in the annular support 58 on the frame of the bobbin carrier.

In order that the pulley 56 may freely swing it is necessary that-the sleeve or bushing 51 should readily turn so that the strip may, with changing positions of the bobbin carrier with relation to the braid, adjust itself so that the strip will be properly applied to and lie in the braid. For this reason the sleeve 5'! is mounted upon ball bean ings 59. Also if the strip 49, which passes through the bushing 51, should, in any of its positions, draw against the bushing the rotation of the bushing would be interfered with and the parts would become worn. It is, therefore, provided in the present machine that the parts shall-be so proportioned and arranged that the strip 40 shall, in none of its positions,- come against the sleeve 51 so that the guide pulley 56 may readily adjust itself without interference. of this character the strip or filament in some or all of its' positions draws against the sleeve through which it passes, with disadvantageous resuits as indicated.

The oil pan having the bottom 23, has the side 60 spaced from the deck and bottom plate 9,'the body or'bath of oil 6| being applied to the pan from any suitable'source through an inlet 62 and the pan has a draining opening '63 in its bottom which may be removably closed by a screw plug 64.

In order that the conduit 65 upon whichthe braid is to be placed may pass vertically upward through the center-of the machine, a hole 66"is formed in the center of the pan, and in such hole is secured in a fiuid-tightman'ner the end of the tube 6'! which extends upwardly'to a distance sufficient to-prevent the oil 6| from splashing over the upper edges thereof. This tube forms the inner wall of the pan and is spaced'from thedeck and bottom plate 9. -Oil is filled into the pan tosuch level as will, by submersion, or by splashing or washing when the oil bath is 'agitatedby the moving parts, cause an abundant supply of oil to be substantially continuously afforded to the upper side of the track plate where it will lubricate all bearings with the upper surface ofxthe trackplate and within the track slots thereby 1u'- bricating the same, whereby noise incident to the.

operation thereof is reduced, the bearing surfaces are thoroughly lubricated; whereby wear and friction is reduced, and'the speed of operation may In previous devices top whereby the operation and condition of the parts may be viewed at all times and the oil may freely splash or wash to the upper surface of the track plate. In order, however, that the oil may not splash out of the pan the sides of the pan should be made sufficiently high so as to prevent this. The sides of the pan should therefore be at least as high as somewhat above the deck or track plate and may be considerably above the bottom so as to surround the same and thereby insure against splashing of oil out of the pan and form a guard against foreign objects which otherwise might intrude laterally to interfere with or injure the apparatus. An auxiliary upper portion 68 of the pan side may be secured to the top of the side 80 by a strip 69 soldered to the top pan section 88 and having its lower portion telescoping within the pan wall 80, the upper section 88 being secured to the lower section '60 of the pan wall by wing-bolts as distributed around the periphery of the pan wall. Of course the joint between the upper and lower sections of the oil pan wall may be made fluid-tight in any suitable manner as by placing a gasket H between the sections. By thus making the top portion of the oil pan wall removable, the wall may be made high enough to prevent the splashing of the oil out of the pan and to form a guard as referred to, and at the same time the upper section may be removed when desired to inspect, repair or adjust the bobbin or bobbin carriers without awkwardly observing or reaching down over the high top edge of the pan wall if indeed the desired objects could, under all circumstances, be ac-- complished in that way.

Leakage of oil from the pan about the shaft [9 is prevented by a stuffing box 13 fixed to the bottom of the pan in a fluid-tight manner. The spiral gears interengage so as to prevent any undue axial movement of'the shaft l9 so that the stufiing box 23 may be of simple and wellknown construction with no provision for a thrust bearing for limiting the longitudinal movement of the shaft 19. To inspect or repairthe parts between the deck or track plate and the lower annular plate 9, the oil may be drained out through the opening 83 and a door or doors as 14 may be provided in the pan wall opposite the space between the deck and lower plate as referred to. Such a door may be secured to the pan wall in any suitable manner and suitable gaskets or other means provided for rendering the closure fluidtight when the door is closed.

In the operation of the machine the metal conduit 65 without the braid is passed upwardly through the tube by any suitable means (not.

shown) and the fiat, metal strips 40 of the braid I2 are applied thereto after the fashion of the well-known Maypole braiding machine, the bobbin carriers with their bobbins travelling about the metal conduit 85 at the center of the machine, in sinuous intersecting paths whereby the braid I2 is formed upon the tube 85 as is well understood in connection with braiding machines of this type. The movement of the machine parts in this operation agitates the oil of the oil bath and insures the application of an abundant supply :of oil to the upper part of the deck or track plate and at the same time the pan, having an open top, the condition and operation of the apparatus can be readily observed and controlled at all times; Also the fiat strip will be properly laid into the formed braid, the final guiding means for the strip before it enters the braid being readily self-adjusting and without danger of undue wear. that the oil pan may be readily applied to an existing braiding machine. without disorganizing such machine.

Referring now to the construction of Fig. 5, the apparatus is the same as that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 except that the oiling provisions are different. In the structure of Fig. 5, the oil pan has thebottom 15 from which upwardly extend the side walls 18 and in the center of the bottom is an opening in which is secured in a fluid-tight manner, the end of the tube 11 through which the tube 65, to which the braid is to be applied, passes.

About the tube TI is formed a gutter 18 into which oil may drain from the bottom of the oil pan, such gutter being fluid-tight and provided with one or more outlet pipes 19. Also a gutter for receiving drawings from the bottom of the pan is formed at the outer edge of the bottom 16 and such gutter is fluid-tight except for one or more drain pipes 8| communicating therewith.

To facilitate the examination and repair of the parts in the spacebetween the deck plate and the lower plate 9' corresponding to the lower plate. 9 of Figs. 1 and 2, one or more openings, opposite the said space in the said wall T8 are provided, each of such openings being removably closed. by closures 82 detachably secured in a fluid-tight manner to the wall 16.

An inclined wall 83 extends entirely about the deck or track plate and the tube 11', such inclined wall being secured in a water-tight manner at its inner and upper portion to the pipe 11 and at its lower and outer portion in a water-tight manner to the disk or track plate. Also the inclined. wall 84 which extends entirely about the track plate and the Wall of the oil pan is secured in a fluid-tight manner at its upper and outer edge to the wall 16, and at its inner and lower edge to the deck or track plate.

Adjacent to the wall 18 and to the upper end of the wall 84 is an oil pipe 85 which extends entirely about the wall 18 and is provided with a suitable number of, and suitably distributed, outlet openings as 86, oil being supplied to the pipe 85, from any suitable source by an inlet pipe 81.

Also surrounding the tube 11 adjacent the upper end of the inclined wall 83 is an oil pipe 88 having a suitable number of outlets 89 suitably distributed, and oil may be supplied to the pipe 88 through an intake pipe 90.

The oil from the outlets 88 and 89 will flow down the inclined walls 83 and 84 on to the top of the deck or track plate lubricating all bearings in connection therewith and, percolating down through the sinuous slots for the bobbin carriers, will lubricate the gears and bearings below the deck or track plate and will finally reach the bottom and collect in the gutters l8 and 80 whence it will be drained oif through the drain pipes 19 and 8|, A continuous flow of oil It willalso be observed from the outlets 8'6 and 89 will cause a continuous flow of lubrication onthe top ofthe deck plate and down through the various bearings and gears to the gutters 18 and 80 whereby the whole will be thoroughly lubricated thus decreasing the wear while increasing. the efficiency and ion-- gevity of the parts as well as permitting an increase in the speed of operation whereby the output of the product of the machine in a given time may be greatly increased.

While the invention has been illustrated in what are considered its best applications it may have other embodiments and the method may be varied and practiced by other means than that set forth, without departing from its spirit. The invention is not, therefore, limited to the struc tures shown in the drawings.

What I claim is:

1. In a braiding machine the combination with a plurality of bobbin carriers, of an annular deck having intersecting sinous track slots in which said carriers are guided, each of said carriers having a horn extending below said deck, horn gears below said deck and adapted to engage said horns to move said bobbins along the said sinous track slots, intermeshing driving gears fixed respectively to said horn gears, a fiat, annular bottom plate, means for securingsaid bottom plate and said deck together, said horn gears and said intermeshing gears being rotatably mounted in said deck and bottom plate and an oil pan having a flat, annular bottom beneath said bottom plate, said pan bottom extending beyond the inner and outer edges of said bottom plate, and said pan having an outer side secured to the outer edge of 'said pan bottom and extending above said deck and said pan having an inner, tubular side wall through which the body receiving the braid may pass, said tubular side wall being secured to the inner edge of said pan bottom, said inner, tubular wall extending through both said bottom plate and said deck, said pan being substantially liquidtight around said deck, said oil pan having an 'open top.

2. In a braiding machine the combination with a plurality of bobbin carriers, of an annular deck having intersecting sinous track slots in which said carriers are guided, each of said carriers having a horn extending below said deck, horn gears below said deck and adapted to en- -bein substantially liquid-tight entirely around wall through which the body receiving the braid may pass, said tubular side wall being secured to the inner edge of said pan bottom, said inner,

tubular wall extending through both said bottom plate and said deck, said pan being substantially liquid-tight entirely around said deck, and common means for securing said bottom plate, deck and said pan bottom together.

3. In a braiding machine the combination with a plurality of bobbin carriers, of an annular deck having intersecting sinous track slots in which said carriers are guided, each of said carriers having a horn extending below said deck. horn gears below said deck and adapted to engage said horns to move said bobbins along the said sinuos track slots, intermeshing driving gears fixed respectively to said horn gears, a flat, annular bottom plate, means for securing said bottom plate and said deck together, said horn gears and said intermeshing gears being rotatably mounted in said deck and bottom plate and an oil pan having a fiat, annular bottom beneath said bottom plate, said pan bottom extending beyond the inner and outer edges of said bottom plate, and said pan having an outer side secured to the outer edge of said pan bottom and extending above said deck and said pan having an inner, tubular side wall through which the body receiving the braid may pass, said tubular side wall being secured to the inner edge of said pan bottom, said inner, tubular wall extending through both said bottom plate and said deck, said pan said deck, the said inner and outer pan sides extending upwardly at least to the level of the bobbins.

JOHN DUNN. 

